hrt + dehydroepiandrosterone

This is a combination therapy consisting of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). HRT typically refers to the administration of estrogen and/or progesterone to alleviate symptoms associated with menopause or perimenopause, such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and osteoporosis risk. DHEA is an endogenous steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands that serves as a precursor for both androgens (like testosterone) and estrogens. In postmenopausal women, combining HRT with DHEA has been studied for its potential to further modulate hormonal balance—raising both androgenic and estrogenic activity beyond what HRT alone provides. This combination may result in higher increases in testosterone and estradiol levels compared to HRT alone[2]. The primary indications explored include management of menopausal symptoms, androgen deficiency in women with low baseline DHEA/DHEAS levels, genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), sexual dysfunction after menopause, mood/cognitive effects, bone health support, and possibly physical function improvement[2][4][5][7]. The mechanism involves direct receptor agonism at estrogen receptors (from exogenous estrogens), progesterone receptors (from exogenous progestogens), as well as indirect modulation via increased endogenous production of sex steroids from DHEA supplementation.